DEFENDING TO
RESTRICT SPACE
AG E P H AS E : U 1 7 +
SESSION PLAN
SESSION OVERVIEW DEFENDING TO RESTRICT SPACE
LEVEL PART 3: 9v9 NO OFFSIDE GAME KEY
• U17+ • Having no offside line in this practice game encourages Ball movement
the out-of-possession team to defend deeper and focus
more on protecting their box and goal. Player movement
SESSION OBJECTIVES • Players will start to develop their understanding of how without the ball
to defend in and around the box by being compact and
• To develop an understanding of how distances between not taking big risks when defending. Player movement
an out-of-possession team’s units can restrict space with the ball
for attackers
• To increase players’ awareness of when to press the ball,
to help regain possession
Players
PART 1: 9v9 PRESSING GAME
• This practice introduces the idea of being compact Cones
when out of possession.
• Players will start to understand how to set traps and
Flat marker
when to press the ball when the opposition are trying
to build an attack.
• Constraints on the pitch and the first pass, as well as the
scoring system, will encourage these behaviours from Cones with
the out-of-possession team. flat marker
PART 2: 9v9 MID-BLOCK GAME Goal
• This practice focuses on defending in a mid-block.
• There is an emphasis on the defending team being able Mini-goal
to pick moments to press, but also to defend the space.
• Players will be coached on reading cues from the ball-
carrier, and being able to press and put pressure on the
ball when the situation dictates. Mannequin Pole
Football
AGE PHASE: U17+
9v9 PRESSING GAME DEFENDING TO RESTRICT SPACE
FUNCTION B
• This 9v9 (including goalkeepers) game is played on a
A
pitch of 40m x 75m that is split into thirds of 25m. The A
B
halfway line acts as an offside line. B
• The teams set up in different formations. Team A is set A
up in a 3-2-3 shape, and Team B in a 4-1-2-1.
40 metres
• The first pass from the goalkeeper to an outfield player A B B A
must be played below hip-height.
• This should give the out-of-possession team an A
opportunity to press the ball.
B B A
• If the defending team is able to win the ball in the final
third and score, they are awarded three points. A
• This will encourage them to press high, with the aim of
winning the ball as high as possible. B
75 metres
DEVELOPING THE PRACTICE
• Progress the practice by adding neutral players to the
in-possession team. This will challenge the defending
team to defend with an underload and be compact
before pressing.
• Remove the rule about the first pass from the
goalkeeper being below hip-height. This will test the
out-of-possession team’s ability to be compact and set
up pressing opportunities.
AGE PHASE: U17+
9v9 PRESSING GAME DEFENDING TO RESTRICT SPACE
COACHING DETAIL:
TECHNICAL
SETTING THE TRAP
• Players on the out-of-possession team should be
encouraged to protect the middle of the pitch.
• The defending team should focus on managing the
distances between each other, in order to prevent
threaded passes being played between them.
• Distances between units need to be compact to limit
space between the lines. This will force play into the
wider areas of the pitch.
LOCKING PLAY ON ONE SIDE
• Once the ball is played wide, the defending team needs
to move as a unit to lock play on that side of the pitch.
• Defending players should do this when pressure is
placed on the ball-carrier – when they put their head
down to look at the ball as they are being pressed.
• They will need to maintain the distances in and between
units, to prevent opponents from switching play.
PRESSING TO REGAIN
• When pressure is placed on the ball-carrier, defending
players can start being more aggressive.
• They should get tight to their closest opposition player,
to force a mistake or intercept.
ATTACKERS READY TO COUNTER
• At the same time, the higher player on the opposite
side to the play should be in a ‘half-and-half’ position,
between opposition players.
• This will allow them to press if the opposition switches
the play, but also be in a good position to support a
counter-attack if the ball is turned over.
AGE PHASE: U17+
9v9 MID-BLOCK GAME DEFENDING TO RESTRICT SPACE
FUNCTION B
• This is a 9v9 (including goalkeepers) game, played on a
A
pitch measuring 40m x 75m and split into thirds. A
B
• The teams are set up in different formations. Team A is
B
set up in a 3-2-3 shape, and Team B in a 4-1-2-1. A
• The lines that split the pitch into equal thirds also act
40 metres
as offside lines for the respective teams at that end of A B B A
the pitch.
• This will encourage the out-of-possession team to drop A
deeper and defend the offside line, making them defend
B B A
in a mid-block.
• The in-possession team’s offside line can also act as A
a line of engagement for the defending team. B
• This will help the defending team remain in a compact
shape, keeping distances between units tight – as
shown by Team A in the diagram. 75 metres
• Teams are awarded three points if they are able to score
within three passes of regaining possession. This will
encourage quick counter-attacking when the ball has
been regained.
• Progress the practice by increasing the pitch length.
This will further challenge a team’s ability to defend the
spaces in behind.
AGE PHASE: U17+
9v9 MID-BLOCK GAME DEFENDING TO RESTRICT SPACE
COACHING DETAIL: COACHING DETAIL:
OUT OF POSSESSION TECHNICAL
COMPACT, NARROW SHAPE 1v1 DEFENDING
• The out-of-possession team should be encouraged • Players will be exposed to a lot of 1v1 situations during
to remain in a compact, narrow shape to stop play this practice.
entering central areas. • Defenders should be encouraged to be patient and wait
• At the same time, they should be mindful not to be so for the best chance to win possession with a tackle.
narrow that it is easy for the in-possession team to play • Players should get low and create a wide base with
around the block and create scoring chances. their legs, to allow them to mirror changes of direction
• The defending team should move as one unit, by their opponent.
maintaining the distances between units.
BODY POSITION OF DEFENDERS
SUFFOCATING SPACE • Defenders should be prepared to drop quickly to
• When the attacking team attempts to play the ball into defend space behind. This can be achieved by having
central areas, the defending team should attempt to a side-on body position.
quickly suffocate space around the receiving player.
• This can be done by having defending players quickly
press the player who is about to receive.
• This intense action can cause the receiver to make
a mistake or give defenders a chance to intercept.
DEFENDING SPACE BEHIND
• The defending team will have space behind them.
If there is no pressure on the ball, defenders must be
prepared to defend the space behind.
• Reading cues of what the ball-carrier is going to do
will allow defenders to drop quickly and protect the
space behind.
AGE PHASE: U17+
9v9 NO OFFSIDE GAME DEFENDING TO RESTRICT SPACE
FUNCTION B
• This practice is a 9v9 (including goalkeepers) game
A
played on a pitch measuring 40m x 75m. A
• The teams have two different formations. Team A is set B
B
up in a 3-2-3 shape, and Team B in a 4-1-2-1. A
• There is no offside line in this game, forcing teams to
40 metres
drop and protect the space behind – as Team A is doing A B B A
in the diagram.
• This will create a situation where one team is defending B A
in the final third.
B A
• Teams are awarded three points if they score within A
three passes of regaining possession.
• This will encourage quick counter-attacking once the B
ball has been regained by the defending team.
70 metres
DEVELOPING THE PRACTICE
• Progress to award an additional three points if the
attacking team scores with a one-touch finish.
• This will encourage the attacking team to build attacks
and work opportunities in the box, creating repetition of
final-third defending for the out-of-possession team.
AGE PHASE: U17+
9v9 NO OFFSIDE GAME DEFENDING TO RESTRICT SPACE
COACHING DETAIL:
OUT OF POSSESSION
PROTECTING THE MIDDLE
• Protecting the middle of the pitch is essential when
defending in a deep block.
• The defending team needs to develop an understanding
of distances between themselves in order to prevent
split passes being played between them.
• While remaining compact, defensive units need to avoid
becoming too narrow. This way, they don’t make it easy
for opponents to play around them and create chances.
TURNING THEM ROUND
• When defending in and around the box, out-of-
possession players must aim to turn the in-possession
player around.
• This means forcing the player on the ball to play
backwards, halting progression to the goal.
• Adopting this mindset means defending players should
not dive into tackles.
• They must stay on their feet and be patient in 1v1 duels.
EMERGENCY DEFENDING
• When the ball is in and around the goal, players must be
more urgent with their defending.
• The defensive mentality changes to be more intense in
order to block shots or protect the goal.
LOOK FORWARD, PLAY FORWARD, RUN FORWARD
• When the defending team wins possession, they should
be looking to play forward as quickly as possible.
• The players ahead of the ball should try to exploit space
behind the opposition if possible.
• The aim is to create goalscoring opportunities from
counter-attacks.
AGE PHASE: U17+
